Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
Volume 128, Issue 1-3, Pages 93-108Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-006-9418-z
Keywords
A/Ci curves; beech; chlorophyll fluorescence; drop contact angle; Fagus sylvatica; lipid peroxidation; membrane permeability; xeromorphism
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Two Fagus sylvatica L. clones were used to investigate the early responses to acute O-3 exposure (150 nL L-1 stop, i.e., 1.35x ambient hourly peak in rural Italy) and whether xeromorphic adaptations affect gas exchange, membrane, and epicuticular responses. One clone originated in a wet and temperate climate in Central Italy (Tuscany); the other clone originated in a warmer and drier climate in the southern-most part of the F. sylvatica distribution (Sicily). Because of higher base gas exchange rates, the most negative effects of O-3 exposure (gas exchange impairment, uncoupling between net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, increased membrane lipid peroxidation) were found in the southern clone. Xeromorphic adaptations (higher epicuticular waxes and stomatal density, lower leaf wettability and size) were found in this clone. Our results suggest that xeromorphism may increase O-3 sensitivity in species not adapted to face water stress, like the mesophilic F. sylvatica, when experiments are carried out with full irrigation. We present evidence describing the relationship between gas exchange and number and status of stomata. Stomatal density and the structural damage to stomata resulting from O-3 exposure did not affect gas exchange: In fact, non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis prevailed over stomatal limitations.
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